The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced in its September 7 administrative communication to local governments, “Review of Medical Treatment Period for Patients with New Type Coronavirus Infection,” that the medical treatment period for patients infected with new type coronavirus will be reduced from the current 10 days in principle to 7 days. This change became effective on the same day. The contents of this administrative communication are as follows.
◆If symptoms are present, within 7 days
For symptomatic patients who are positive for new-type coronavirus infection, the cancellation can be made from the 8th day if 7 days have passed since the onset date and 24 hours have passed after the symptoms have abated.
However, until 10 days have passed, there is still a risk of infection, and therefore, the government requests that people check their own health condition by taking their temperature, avoid contact with high-risk individuals such as the elderly, unnecessary visits to high-risk facilities, use of high-risk places, and business meals, etc., and to take thorough voluntary measures to prevent infection by wearing a mask, etc.
In addition, for those who are currently hospitalized (including those admitted to an elderly care facility), the cancellation will be possible from the 11th day if 10 days have passed since the onset date and 72 hours have elapsed since the symptoms abated (unchanged from the previous version).
◆ Asymptomatic to 5 days
In the case of asymptomatic cases, as in the past, the treatment can be lifted on the 8th day if 7 days have elapsed from the date of specimen collection. In addition, if the test kit on the 5th day shows a negative result, the patient can be released on the 6th day.
However, until 7 days have passed, the risk of infection remains, and the government asks that people check their own health status, such as by taking their temperature, avoid contact with high-risk individuals such as the elderly, unnecessary visits to high-risk facilities, use of high-risk places, and business meals together, as well as wearing masks, and take other voluntary measures to prevent infection.
◆Restrictions on curfew also eased
As for refraining from going out during the recuperation period, symptomatic patients may go out as long as 24 hours have passed after the symptoms have abated. As for asymptomatic patients, they may go out only for a short time when going out or in contact with others, not use public transportation when traveling, and go out as little as necessary, including grocery shopping, provided that they take thorough voluntary infection prevention measures such as always wearing a mask when going out and in contact with others.
Even if the release of the recuperation period is shortened, basic infection prevention measures must continue to be taken.
